Turns out the damage to Hope Solo‘s wrist was worse than first thought.

The Reign FC goalkeeper is expected to miss three to four months after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair torn cartilage in her left wrist.

The pre-surgery estimate to how long Solo, a U.S. national and Richland native, would be out was six to eight weeks. She will likely miss the first half of the upcoming NWSL season.

“We were all pleased to learn that Hope is expected to make a full recovery and that she should be available for our push toward the playoffs,” said Reign FC general manager Amy Carnell in a news release. “Of course, we wish Hope could be with us from the first day of preseason, but injuries are part of the game. Over the long haul, having a healthy Hope Solo makes us stronger for our run at the championship, not only this season but for seasons to come.”

Solo, 31, had been playing through the injury and was advised to undergo surgery now to be ready for Women’s World Cup qualifiers in 2014.

Here is some more background on Solo, who also starred for the University of Washington, from the news releases from Reign FC and U.S. Soccer:

A member of the U.S. National Team since 2001, Solo is second all-time in U.S. history in caps, wins and shutouts for a goalkeeper. Since becoming the starting goalkeeper for the USA in 2005, Solo has established herself as one of the world’s best female goalkeepers. She won the best goalkeeper award at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and had a monumental match in the gold medal game of the 2012 Olympics in London. Solo currently has 135 caps for the United States.